III. DISCUSSION OF THE DRAFT NATIONAL ELECTIONS LAW AND THE DRAFT ELECTION COMMISSIONS LAW

C. Candidacy Rights

It is a universal human rights principle that every citizen has the right, on a non-discriminatory basis and without unreasonable restrictions, to: (1) take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly or through freely chosen representatives; (2) vote and be elected at genuine, periodic elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret ballot, guaranteeing the free expression of the will of the electors; and (3) have access, on general terms of equality, to public service in his or her country.[1] The draft national elections law does not fully satisfy this fundamental principle, as it contains provisions that prevent citizens who should have the opportunity to participate in representative government from exercising their right to be a candidate for public office.

[1] See, e.g., Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.